Improvement in horse-collar fastenings



2Sheets--Sheet 1. E. H. SPRIA-GUE. Horse Cullar Fastenings.

No. 137,105 Patented-March25,1873.

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JIM PHGTO-UTHOGRAPH/C (It A "K! OSBDWNES PROCESS UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE.

ELIAS H. SPRAGUE, OF MOUNT VERNON, OHIO.

IMPROVEMENT IN HORSE-COLLAR FASTENINGS.

Specification formfn g part of Letters Patent No. 13?,105, dated March25, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELIAS H. SPRAGUE, of Mount Vernon, in the county ofKnox and State of Ohio, have invented certain Improvements inHorse-Collar Fastenings, of which the following is a specification:

The nature and object of my invention consist in the method of attachingcases or caps to the lower ends of a horse-collar, and the manner oflooking or fastening the ends of the collar together after it is placedon the horse.

In the accompanying drawing, making a part of this specification, Figure1 is a perspective view of a horse-collar with my invention attached.Fig. 2 is a view of the cases locked together. Fig. 3 is an outsidebottom view of case B. Fig. 4 is an outside bottom view of case 0. Fig.5 is an inside view of case 0. Fig. 6 is a metallic case fitting theinside of the end of a horse-collar, and after the leather is drawn overit fitting the inside of case B or 0. Fig. 7 is a section of ahorse-collar with case attached. Fig. 8 is a side view, partly insection, of tho iower end of the horse-collar. Fig. 9 is an interiorview of the exterior casing 0, showing the catch inserted in the same;and Figs. 10 and 11 are perspective views of the casings B and O.

A is a horse-collar separated at its lower end. Each end is furnishedwith a metal case, B and G, which are shaped to fit snugly the ends ofthe collar, and are attached or fastened to the ends of the collar byscrews or rivets, or in any other suitable and substantial manner. Mylocking device consists of a projection, D, as seen, provided with anotch or recess, E. In the bottom of Fig. 4 is an opening, F, into whichthe projection D in Fig. 3 fits, and in which it is held by bar G, whichcatches into recess E and holds it fast. Bar G in Fig. 5 slides and isheld to the bottom of the case and in the proper direction by a screw orrivet passing through slot I in the bar G, and into or through thebottom of the case; it is also provided with a thumb-piece, J. A spiralspring passes around the end of the bar G and rests against the insideof the end of the case at L, the other end of the spring resting againsta shoulder on bar G. This spring keeps the bar G thrown forward so thatit rests in recess E or against screw H. The conical formed projectionsM M in Fig. 3 are guide-pins, which enter the orifices N N, Fig. 4,fitting them snugly, thus preventing the cases B and G from turning ineither direction while locked. B is a case, shown in Figs. 6, 7 and S,for the padding of the end of the collar; this case fits snugly theinside of the leather at the end of the collar, receiving into it thepadding. The leather is drawn over it and fastened around it by sewingor any other convenient method. After the ends of the collar have beenthus furnished with this inside case, they are placed in cases B and O,which they snugly fit, resting on the bottom of cases B and G on the.projection O 0, Fig. 6, to prevent the end of the collar from coming incontact with bar G, which would impede its free movement.

The inside case for case B need not be fur nished with the projectionsor feet 0 O, as no part of the locking device is contained on the insideof this case. The inside case should be of sufficient length so that therounded points P P, Fig. 7, may be turned inward and down upon its upperedge, thereby fastening cases B and O securely to the collar, when it isdesired to fasten the cases by this method; or they may be fastened byscrews or rivets, as heretofore mentioned.

To fasten or look the collar it is only neces sary to press the endstogether. The catch E of the projection D, on passing into the openingF, presses the bar G back and allows the cases B and G to-come intoclose contact, when bar G is thrown forward by the spring K into therecess E, and thus locks the collar. To unlock it, force back bar G bypressing on thumb-piece J 5 thus the bar is forced out of recess E,allowing catch D to pass out of opening F, and leaves the collar openand free to place upon the horse at pleasure.

It will be seen that the caps B and C receive the ends of the collar A,and protect the same, and when the parts are locked they fit snugly,hold securely, and are likewise ornamental in appearance.

Having thus described my invention, what 1 claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

The interior casing R, placed between the padding and covering on theend of a horsecollar, and fitting inside of an exterior casing,substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.

'Witnesses: ELIAS H. SPFJAGUE.

D. M. MEFFoRn, H. STEPnENs.

